Electrical transmission of power



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION OF POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,515, dated May 6, 1890.

Original application filed November 18, 1889, Serial No. 330,729. Divided and this application filed February 1'7, 1890. Serial No. 340,672- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electrical Transmission of Power, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvemen ts for the electrical transmission of power; and it consists of certainimprovements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This application (Case 129) is a division of my application, Serial No. 330,729, filed November 18, 1889, (Case 122.)

In my applications, Serial No. 241,720, of June 18, 1887,SerialNo. 254,672,0'f November 9, 1887, and Serial No. 328,877, of October l,

1889, are described systems for the distribution of electricity by the employment of induction-coils which are adapted to convert the higlrtension line-currents into low-tension currents for energizing the translating devices.

My present application (Case 129) relates to the same general art, but comprehends certain improvements in the means for regulating the induced currents produced.

In carrying out my invention I provide a generator of any suitable construction for producing currents of alternatelyincreasing and decreasing potential or alternating currents of high electro-motive force, and convert such currents by the employment of transformers or induction-coils into currents of substantially the same periods, but of lower potential, for local distribution. The finewire coils of the local distributing transformers may be in series or parallel with the line-circuit and the coarse wire of the said transformers arranged to feed separate local circuits. The local transformers may be in separate central stations for different districts and supply current to distributingmains and local house-circuits, as set out in my application, Serial No. 328,877, of 1889, above specified, or each of the transformers or inductioncoils may be in separate houses for local dis tribution withoutthc employment of any central station, except that where the current is generated. The transformers have movable cores which may be inserted or removed with respect to the coils, so as to increase or decrease the magnetic capacity of the transformer, and preferably the regulation is performed automatically by causing the current in the local circuit to control through suitable devices the movement of the said magnetic core of the transformer; or, if desired, the core may remain stationary and the same general mechanism as hereinafter described may be employed to cutinto or out of circuit any desired amount of the wire of the transformer, either of the primary or secondary coil. By this means any variation in the demand in the local circuit or distributingmains will automatically cause a regulation in the production of the induced current by the transformer. Vhen the apparatus is re ulated in this way, the resistance to the line-current in the primary of the transformer may be reduced and a saving result from the reduction in current in the line necessary to overcome the resistance of the line and transformer coils.

I do not confine myself to any particular arrangement of local or line circuits, nor to any particular detail of construction or type of transformer or generator of the primary current of alternately increasing or decreasing potentialj It is not essential that the currents in the line-circuit shall take the negative sign, because they may be produced as set out in my application, Serial No. 85,897, filed February 28, 1888, or as set out in Letters Patent No. 389,974, dated September 25, 1888, in which they are of the same sign, but of alternately increasing and decreasing potential. Likewise interrupted line-currents may be used, if desired, as set out in my application of June, 1887, hercinbefore specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the relative arrangement of the electric circuits and their connections, and Fig. 2. is a plan view of a modified arrangement of the regulating apparatus of the transformer.

A are the line wires orcircuits, and receive current from the generator B, preferably an alternating-current dynamo, and the current generated is regulated by the excitin g dynamo C and regulator c.

E are branch circuits leading from different parts of the wires A, and include the primary or fine-wire coils of the induction-coil or transformers F. The coarse wire of these transformers connect with distributing-mains H, and thence with local circuits I, including translating devices J, of any suitable construction. If desired, these transformers may deliver directly into the local circuits. The transformers are provided with movable cores extending within the coils, which cores may be made in single or double parts, and are movable within the coils, so as to increase or decrease the magnetic capacity of the transformer.

In Fig. 1 the core G is connected with a screw-threaded rod or shaft g, which is moved by a worm-wheel Ii, acting as a stationary nut, which worm-wheel is rotated by a worm Z on the shaft of the electric motor K, which is in a shunt-cireuit across the mains II. This motor may have a hand regulator 7.11, and also a reversing-switch M, which is operated by an enveloping-core O and helix N, which helix is in a shunt-circuit P across the mains H, and is provided with a regulator n. It will now be understood that if the demand on the transformer was decreased the current in the motor-circuit E would be increased, thereby starting the motor, that it. may withdraw the core to reduce the current in the local circuits. WVhen this is accomplished and the current is in accordance with the demand, the reversing-switch opens the motor-circuit. If now there is an increased demand on the local circuits, the spring 1) overcomes the attraction of the core 0 and the switch M is reversed, causing the core G to be moved into the coils of the transformer F.

The motor K and the switch-actuating devices for controlling the direction of its rotation are preferably in shunt relation with the local circuits I.

The operation of the device 0 N is dependout upon the fact that when strong currents of alternating polarity are sent through the helix M there is a tendency to throw off the ring-core O, causing it to be moved upward away from the helix. This tendency is availed of to make the switch M shift when the current in the mains H H becomes in excess of the demand in the local circuits and translating devices. The mains II would ordinarily extend through the streets and the local circuits I, having translating devices .I, would extend into the houses.

J may represent lamps or motors or any other suitable translating device. The local circuits I may be provided with switches 11, so that any local circuit maybe cut out without interrupting those remaining, and each translating device may have its own switch, as is customary.

In my improved system it is evident that the cores of the induction-coils in the distributing-stations might be operated by hand in place of an electric motor K, indications to the operator in charge being given by any suitable meter arranged in or across the main II.

In Fi l D I) represents several local distributingstations having the i n duction apparatus or transformers located at them for supplying the current to the separate districts, and all of said districts maybe operated indirectly from the distant generating-plant B at a cen tral station common to all of the various distributing-stations. The induction -coils or transformers, while preferable in multiple by the branch circuits E, may have their finewire coils in series in the line A, as shown at F in Fig. 1.

While I have shown the automatic regulating apparatus upon one transformer or induction-coil only, it is to be understood that similar regulating apparatus would be employed with all of the transformers for each distributing-station D.

In place of the regulator shown in Fig. 1 it may be modified as shown in Fig. 2, in which the two cores G are employed, one for the fine-wire coil and one for the coarse-wire coil, and made movable to or from each other, so as to be capable of being inserted into or withdrawn from both coils simultaneously and to equal degrees. To do this, I connect the cores of soft iron G with levers U, having links a, hinged to the worm-wheel Ii, actuated by the electric motor, as in the case of Fig. 1. By rotating the motor in either direction the cores are moved into or out of the coils and vary the magnetic capacity of the transformers. This method of regulation is excellently adapted for municipal distribution, as the induction-generating apparatus at the local distributing-stations are large and material variations in their duty are not likely to be sudden.

I do not confine myself to the minor details of construction in the regulating devices, as they may be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Any matters herein set out but not claimed are not dedicated to the public, but form subject-matter of my applications hereinbefore referred to and my applications, Serial No.

85,897, of February 23, 1883, Serial No. 326,958, of October I, 1889, and Serial No. $7,632, of October 21, 1889that is to say, I do not in this application claim the invention for using secondary generators or induction-coils, broadly, either in multiple or series, nor the special forms of distribution-circuits; nor do I claim these improvements combin ed with regulating mechanism for the induction-coils, broadly considered, as such form sub j eet-matter of my various applications hereinbefore referred to.

Having now described myinvention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in an apparatus for the electrical transmission of energy, of a generator for currents of alternately increasing and decreasing potential, line-circuits conveying said currents to a distance, a secondary induction-coil or transformer having its fine-Wire coil in circuit with the line and its coarse-wire coil in a local distributing-circuit, a movable soft-iron core for said ind uction-coil or transformer, means to insert or remove said core with respect to the coil, consisting of an electro-motor, and a circuit for coupling the motor in the local or distributing circuit.

2. The combination, in an apparatus for the electrical transmission of energy, of a generator for currents of alternately increasing and decreasing potential, line-circuits conveying said currents to a distance, a secondary ini'luction-coil or transformer having its fine-wire coil in circuit with the line and its coarse-wire coil in a local or distributing circuit, a movable soft-iron core for said induction-coil or transformer, means to insert or remove said core with respect to the coil, consisting of an eleetromotor, a circuit for connecting the motor with the local or distributing circuit, and a reversing-switch for controlling the direction or rotation of the motor.

3. The combination, in an apparatus for the electrical transmission of energy, of a generator for currents of alternately increasing and decreasing potential, line-circuits convey- ,ing said currents to a distance, a secondary induction-coil or transformer having its finewire coil in circuit with the line and its coarsewire coil in a local or distributing circuit, a movable-soft iron core for said induction-coil or transformer, means to insert or remove sa-id core with respect to the coil, consisting of an electromotor, a circuit for connecting the motor With/[he local or distributing circuit, a reversing-switch for controlling the diiection or rotation of the motor, and an electro-magnetic operating device controlled by the current generated in the coarse wire of the induetion-coil or transformer to operate the switch.

4. In an apparatus for transmission of electrical energy, the combination of a generator for supplying current of alternately increasing and decreasing potential, line-circuits leading from said generator, an-induction-coil or transformer having its fine-wire coil in connection with the line-conductor and its coarse-Wire coil in connection with a distributing-circuit, local circuits containing translating devices arranged in multiple with respect to each other and connected to the distributin g-circ uit, and electro-magn etic devices for varying the magnetic capacity of the induction-coil or transformer, consisting of a movable soft-iron core for the transformer, a motor to move said core into or out of the coils of the transformer, and an electric device to control the operation of said motor.

5. In an apparatus for transmission of electrical energy, the combination of a generator ing and decreasing potential, line-circuits leading from the said generator, an ind uctioncoil or transformer having its line-wire coil in connection with the line-coi'iductor and its coarse-wire coil in connection with a distributing-circuit connected with translz'tting devices in parallel, electro-niagnetic devices for varying the magnetic capacity of the induction-coil or transformer, consisting of a movable soft-iron core adapted to be inserted or removed from the coils of the transformer, a screw device for moving said core, an electromotor connecting with the screw for operating it, an electric circuit including said motor, a switch to cause the motor to remain at rest or rotate in either direction, and an electro-magneticswitch-operatingdeviceaetuated by the current developed in the coarse wire of the transformer.

6. In an apparatus for transmission of electrical energy, the combination of a generator for supplying current of alternately increasing and decreasing potential, line-circuits leading from said generator, an induction-coil or transformer having its fine-wire coil in connection with the line-cond uctor and its coarsewire coil in connection with a distributingcircuit, local circuits arranged in multiple with respect to each other, containing translatin g devices and receiving current from the distributing-circuit, and electro-magnetic devices for varying the magnetic capacity of the induction-coil or transformer, consisting of a movable soft-iron core adapted to be inserted or removed from the coils of the transformer, a screw device for moving said core, an electromotor connecting with the screw for operating it, an electric circuit including said motor, a switch to cause the motor to remain at rest or rotate in either direction, and an eleetro-magnetic switch-operating device actuated by the current developed in the coarse wire of the transformer arranged in parallel with the coarse-wire coil of the trans former.

7. The combination of a source of electric energy of alternately increasing and decreasingpotential, an induction-coil or transformer having its fine-wire coils in circuit with said source of electrical energy and having a core made of one or more movable parts of magnetic material, a local or distributing circuit in connection with the coarse-wire coil of the induction-coil, and mechanical devices for moving the core or parts thereof within the coils for varying the magnetic capacity of the transformer, consisting of a motor and an electro-magnetie controlling device for causing the motor to move the core or parts thereof into or out of the coils of the transformer.

S. The combination of a source of electric energy of alternately increasing and decreasing potential, an induction coil or transformer having its line-wire coils in circuit with said source of electrical energy and having a core made of one or more movable parts of magfor supplying current of alternately increasnetic material, a local or distributing circuit ITO in connection with the coarse-wire coil of the ceiving current from the coarse wire of the 10 induction-coil, and mechanical devices for transformer.

moving the core or parts thereof within the In testimony of which invention I have coils for varying the magnetic capacity of the hereunto set my hand. transformer, consisting of a motor and an i I n electromagnetic controlling device for cans- RUDOLPH H UNl ing the motor to move the core or parts thereof Witnesses:

into or out of the coils of the transformer, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER,

said eleetro-magnetic controlling device re- ALEX. P. SHAW. 

